Submitted by: Mark Thompson(39,186) Log in to become a member of Mark Thompson's Fan Club!
There have always been many options available for Playstation 2 owners looking to purchase a ps2 mod chip. With the price of the Playstation 2 itself haveing dropped to under $100.00, mod chip manufacturers have also adjusted their pricing, offering not only expensive mod chips, but smaller and much less costly solution. Many reputable websites selling PS2 Mod chips also offer pre installed systems for sale. This may be the route you'd like to take after reading these tips. After all, a Pre Modded PS2 is certainly a plug and play solution. You won't have to solder at all, and you're often paying just a nomimal fee to cover the installation and the mod chip. You can also rest a bit easier because most web sites will actually offer a lifetime warranty on the installation itself, and replace the 90 day manufacturer warranty and cover the unit if it is defective or not workig in any way.
Installing a mod chip into your Playstation 2 has always seemed like a daunting task. This was especially true of the older generation of Playstation 2 machines, where many of the solder points were directly on the main bios chip of the PS2. But as PS2 Mod Chip manufacturers developed newer and newer versions of PS2 Mod chips, they realized that while features and functions are an important selling feature of ps2 chips, it is also equally important to offer a PS2 Mod Chip that is easy to install.
Get the RIGHT chip for YOUR Playstation 2 console model number. There are 16 different versions of the Playstation 2 Main Board, and you have one of them. The question is which one do YOU have. Before you buy your ps2 mod chip, make sure to check which version you have. You can do this by going to Google.com and searching for PS2 MODEL IDENTIFICATION and you'll see results from numerous web sites offering a listing of all PS2 Model numbers. You can of course opt for a Universal PS2 Modchip, this will do away with having to find out your model number in advance, because the universal ps2 mod chips like the Modbo 4.0, will work in every single Playstation 2 console on the market today.
Use Solder with Flux in it: For those of you that don't know, flux helps solder melt and attach itself to both the wires you're using as well as the solder points. Far too often people are using solder without flux, and buying flux seperately. Don't! Doing it that way will mean that you could potentially use too much flux, and corrode / eat away at the solder point as time goes on, forcing you to re-solder at a later date.
Keep your wires as short as possible: Because you're actually sending data / information FROM the modchip, to your Playstation 2 motherboard, the less of a distance that the data / information has to travel, the better. Many customers that initially thought they had done an incorrect ps2 mod chip installation were simply wiring up their mod chips with wires that were far too long. The Playstation 2 is a bit picky, make sure to keep your power and ground wires as short as possible.
You need the right soldering iron: You don't want to get a soldering iron with a tip the size of your pinky finger, or one that heats up to the point of melting the ps2 main board. You want a soldering iron that has a small, fine tip, making it easy to install the ps2 mod chip when you have to solder to the smaller sections of the motherboard. You can get a fine tip soldering iron for less than $15.00 at most Radio Shack stores. Make sure to get one that is rated at 15 Watts, this will provide enough heat for the soldering job, without actually hurting your console.
Use thin, 15 AWG Wrapping Wire: You can also get this wire at almost every single Radio Shack Store. Far too often, an ps2 mod chip installation is bothced simply because of the wiring that is used. If the wire is too thick, you'll have a hard time attaching it to the right places, without the wire touching another part of the main board. It also helps that wrapping wire is insulated, because this ensures you won't short out your main board.
Probably the most important tip is simply to take your time. We all like to rush, and getting that ps2 mod chip in the mail means sitting down and wanting to install it right away, as fast as you can. Some of the solder points are small, requiring precision. While you don't have to be an expert a soldering, you DO have to take your time, making sure and double checking every single connection. Make sure that the wires ARE actually attached, and more importantly, that they're attached to ONLY the soldering points they should be, without touching any other wires.
With all of the ps2 mod chips available on the market today, choosing the right one is probably the most important thing you can do. There's nothing worse than getting your modchip, only to find that the chip your ordered is simply not compatible with your Playstation 2. There are pros and cons to installing your own ps2 mod chip as opposed to buying a pre modded ps2 system. Weigh your options, and if you're not sure if you can do the installation, then you should definitely opt for a pre modded system. And remember, a higher price does not at all mean you're getting more features, better functions or easier installation. It has been my experience that the lower priced PS2 mod chips offer everything the most expensive chips offer, and often times are much easier to install too.
Mark Thomspon Provides Installation and product support for PS2 Mod Chip customers - the only mod chip store offering modchips for all the major video game consoles.
» left by Jessy from Bedford VA (264 days 23 hours ago.)
You should tell people about solderless modchips there alot easer to install. The only problem with them is the clips you attach are easy to break while your installing it. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (111 days 15 hours ago.)
I have installed three solderless modchips without problems (i know nothing, it tooks more time to disassemble/reassemble the ps2.
Beginners should read a few guides about electronic soldering. It's important to spend some time practicing (on something else) first to gain skills and confidence before attacking your PS2. It's not hard but it requires patience and a steady hand.
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